Ezekiel "Zeke" Edwin Matheredor is the second child of the Matheredor family and brother to Adorlan and Sky. His elder brother Adorlan reigns as the Duke of House Matheredor. Zeke has only recently rejoined his siblings in their ancestral home of Ebonfall, vowing to uphold the House and ideals his brother rebuilt from near ruin during the Third War.
Physical Description[]
Generally, Zeke is a clean and well-maintained man. His armors and weapon all cared for meticulously with the strict belief of "making a good first impression" ingrained in his mind. He's described as a tall, well-built man with a hardy endurance. He goes to great lengths to preserve his athleticism and stamina with daily morning exercises and rigorous training.
His eyes are an alluring shade of blue with black hair and pale skin; though years spent weathering the outdoors has given his fair noble's complexion a natural tan. Scars inflicted by blades claim numerous places all over his body, primarily his arms and torso.
Zeke wears his dark hair long. It spans to a mid-back length but is almost always tied up. His hair has been described as "beautiful" and the envy of some women for its thick density and sheen. Only in the privacy of his quarters will he let it down. Though a full beard is rare, short stubble is always present around his chin and jawline.
As a child, he was mocked for being too scrawny by many of his male peers. His effeminate "pretty boy" facial features didn't do the young Zeke any favors in raising his confidence. Throughout his teens, he grew plenty tall but struggled to gain any mass. Now fully matured, he's filled out wherever he previously lacked and the countenance he once resented now proven beneficial in attracting potential partners..
Personality[]
Zeke has an overall and optimistic and relaxed disposition with an immature sense of humor. He has a habit of coming off as too aloof at times, though internally he's very much grounded. A smile is more than often genuine but it can also be used to disguise the fears beneath his cheerful exterior.
He's been known to go the extra mile for his comrades and has a difficult time turning requests down. Because of this, he grew in infamy for accepting even the most mundane of jobs. He's more than happy to get his hands dirty with hard labor or routine chores. It's not unusual for him to turn away servants in lieu of taking care of something himself. Zeke was never above helping his community or peers despite a noble upbringing. In fact, he'll rarely mention it at all and insists titles are dropped in informal settings.
Zeke has a fairly distinct weakness for drink and women. Albeit, his drinking habits have never manifested into anything more than a crutch in regard to the aforementioned ladies. It's no secret he frequents brothels in search of the next high despite knowing this behavior uncouth.
History[]
Early Life[]
Ezekiel, dubbed "Zeke" for short, was born year 4 ADP as the second child of Lord Victor and Lady Katelaine Matheredor. His elder brother, Adorlan, was already a handful of years old at the time. Zeke never had the opportunity to truly know his brother. Both parents insisted Adorlan had died and for a time and he never questioned it. It wasn't until Zeke matured that he understood things might not have been exactly as they appeared. In actuality, the extent of his parent's cruelty would never fully be known.
Zeke's youth otherwise was fairly typical for a noble's son. Schooling on etiquette and policy were hammered into the boy's mind as soon as he could comprehend sentences. Zeke, however, displayed no real interest in any subject taught to him. He was adventurous to a fault and was often scolded for acting recklessly. One hobby Zeke did grasp was brushwork. Steady hands and an eye for detail gifted the boy with an ability to mimic scripture as beautiful as the hand of Church scribes. His father, however, belittled Zeke for this and insisted his son was a soldier whether he complied or not. Zeke's practice for calligraphy continued behind closed doors and never in the presence of Victor.
While not trying to appease his father, Zeke would spend time with his younger sister, Sky. In hindsight, she was his only real ally and the sole person he truly cherished growing up. With just the both of them present, he could lower his guard and act like himself without regard for decorum. Zeke's depths of appreciation for his sister were probably never realized to anyone, not even her. Even after years apart, he remains profoundly protective of her - though at an arm's length.
A mostly mundane life all too quickly altered when the Third War began to stir. A teenager at the time, Zeke could comprehend the dread that lingered over Ebonfall like a dense cloud. The dreary mood behind the walls was contagious and it deeply disturbed him to see his father so shaken. Zeke, shrugging off as much as he could, began to prepare with the notion he'd be defending his home from the oncoming scourge. The Lord and Lady, however, had other ideas.
Zeke has no recollection of the events that unfolded. No memory of how Adorlan returned to save Ebonfall or how their parents were "slaughtered by the scourge". All he could recall was that many faces were now missing - mostly those who dutifully served the previous Lord without a qualm. As if things weren't confusing enough, Adorlan had taken up the family mantle and insisted both Zeke and Sky sent away to begin a new. Though initially hesitant, Zeke understood his brother's intentions good and left home. The promise of a fresh start enticed the young noble with a deep-rooted sense of adventure.
Mercenary Work[]
It was by no stroke of luck that Zeke was quickly collected by a group of sellswords the moment he'd exited Matheredor lands. Undoubtedly, this was the idea of a new start his brother had fixed for him. With nowhere to go, he willingly complied. The mercenary hierarchical structure easily tossed the young noble to the wolves scraping at the bottom. He was relentlessly bullied, beaten, and ridiculed. Life was plainly miserable for a time; a rude awakening to the do-or-die world outside of Ebonfall's stone walls. Despite disastrous conditions, Zeke was far more resilient and eventually, the harassment came to pass. In time he'd earn his keep, coin, and the respect of his peers.
Years passed and Zeke accepted numerous positions ranging from bodyguard to contract killer. Political campaigns he had no personal investment in were wholly fought for nothing more than the coin. The same coin he'd never once considered a scarce resource was now his compulsion for survival. Zeke became greedy with his earnings, lusting for more with each job completed. The fledgling mercenary and his band of misfit brothers became synonymous with success, growing wealthier with each victory under their belts. While a spry Zeke was still eager for more work, his comrades were showing age and thus broke off one-by-one to take their newfound wealth elsewhere.
Traveler's Horizon and the Thorns[]
WIP
Abilities[]
Polearms[]
Zeke's weapon of choice is a glaive fitted with two blades at each end. His proficiency with polearms reflects in his physique and an emphasis on his upper body strength. Powerful sweeping blows can take out the bearings of his enemies with a wider melee range. His mobility is further honed in mounted combat whereas he's less limited by the burden of his heavy armors.
The Light[]
While Zeke never formally demonstrated any desire to wield the Light, he was encouraged by his mentor, a rogue paladin, who he accompanied on many jobs throughout the years. It was this paladin who taught him that the Light isn't something you need a doctrine from the Church to use, but faith and willpower alone. Zeke with his innate tenacity and self-discipline was a more than a model disciple. Although the training was more arduous than anything he'd ever faced, Zeke was proven to be capable of Light-wielding. While he prefers to exercise his own personal strengths, he's been known to use the Light to enhance his own abilities and mend wounds.
Despite technically a paladin, Zeke is a far cry from the standard do-gooder holy warrior. He's been known to criticize the Church for some of their overzealous practices and the fanatics that have been cultivated by these conducts.
Calligraphy[]
Though rarely used for anything more than a hobby, Zeke's faultless talent with pen and ink can create either an artistic masterpiece or perfect forgery. He's mastered different strokes to create an expressive and harmonious flow in his lettering. He's not limited to wording either; the talent spans to ink drawings and cartography as well.
Relationships[]
Cadence Hayley[]
"She has wings; always destined for skies higher than a grounded guy like me. I could spend forever in her shadow but that wouldn't make her happy. She'd coax you out into the sunlight before taking flight again."
Cadence or Cade is a half-elf priestess Zeke encountered a handful of times while working varied jobs. She initially struck him as a typical priest. Modest and benevolent; the mere epitome of a church disciple. The same church whose practices Zeke had come to roll his eyes at. His first impressions were wronged when he formally joined the Order of Thorns and to his surprise, would work shoulder-to-shoulder with the very same priestess.
Cade was kindhearted but also harbored a fiery streak and zest for life. She could be shockingly flagrant, which undoubtedly caught him off-guard each time. Zeke had already established him as a known flirt and Cade, though not initially receptive, eventually reciprocated much of his antics with her own jest. She was amusing to him while also worthy of everyone's respect. She could turn rooms to her attention, not just for her beauty but the commanding presence she exhibited. It wasn't long before Cade consumed him, pushing the stray noble to fall for someone like he'd never fallen before.
Although she returned his feelings, Zeke never felt worthy of Cade's affection. She was excelled beyond what he expected in a lover, let alone a person. He'd follow her to the ends of Azeroth and back, not just for the sake of the Thorns but to bask in her presence. What Cade aspired to achieve, Zeke would be there to hold her up without so much as regard for his own wants. Even when Adorlan had sent a letter requesting Zeke finally return home, the request fell by the wayside in Zeke's pursuit.
When the Thorns went missing, so did Cade, and with her all the color that had filled his life. Zeke fell into a deep depression, turning to drink, smoking, and brothels. What time he didn't spend wallowing in pity, he had dedicated to not just upholding the life he found within the Thorns but finding Cade. In the end, however, it was her that found him of her own accord.
Cade resurfaced back into his life, albeit briefly before vanishing again all the same. Though this time he'd come to the understanding her cruelty was one of kindness. She would again find him when she needed to, knowing that wherever she was, she was trailblazing her own path. And that's exactly what he should be doing - living, not just for her but himself.
Trivia[]
• Zeke is very near-sighted but has learned to cope with the disability over the years. He does own a pair of corrective glasses but only wears them to work on his penmanship or read.
• He's been observed to smoke cigarettes when depressed or under a great deal of stress.
Quotes[]
"What's the pay?"
"My name is Zeke. Just Zeke."
"Well, shit."